History of the Crusades

the Crusades Episode 134, the Crusade, the Crusade against the Cathars, to the end of the year 1211. Hello again.

Last week we discussed the Battle of San Martin-Laland, in which Simon de Monfort snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when the Count of Foix and the Southern

French rebels found themselves outplayed and out-manuvered by Simon de Monfor's much smaller force.

All in all, the Battle of San Martel-Laland proved to be an unlikely victory for Simon de Monfort and an embarrassing setback for the rebels.

But the victory didn't really change the status quo at the siege of Castel-Naudry.

Despite defeating the southern French on the battlefield, Simon de Monfort was still

holed up in the blackened fortifications of Castle Naudry.

His supply train had arrived safely so his men were adequately provisioned and his forces were bolstered by the 300 or so

extra men who had fought in the Battle of San Martin-Laland and had arrived with the supply train. But an extra 300 men were not enough to enable

Simon to break the siege. Count Raymond's incessant tweaking of the defences surrounding their camp

meant that it really couldn't be successfully attacked

with the amount of men currently at Simon's disposal

Simon needed more men.

This was going to be a problem.

The campaigning season was drawing to a close. Even though the winters in

southern France were mild compared to those experienced in northern Europe, snow still fell on the higher peaks and the temperature

often dipped below freezing. Winter wasn't a time for campaigning. It was a time for bunkering down inside your castle and keeping warm.

But Simon didn't want to bunker down for the winter. He wanted to break free of the Siege of

Castle Naudry and drive Count Raymond back to the city of Toulouse. And for that he

needed more men.

Having pondered on this problem for a goodly while,

...